JP5257198B2 - Rewritable printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a rewritable printer that performs printing of an image on a printing layer and erasing of an image printed on the printing layer with respect to a thermal recording medium having a printing layer that can be thermally reversibly colored and erased. .

  Recently, as a printer that can reduce the amount of printing objects such as paper by repeatedly performing printing processing and erasing processing on the same printing object, a printing layer that thermally reversibly develops and decolors. 2. Description of the Related Art For example, a rewritable printer that prints an image on a print layer and erases an image printed on the print layer has attracted attention with respect to, for example, a sheet-like heat-sensitive recording medium.

  In this type of thermal recording medium, data relating to the thermal recording medium, for example, whether or not the image on the print layer has been erased, what is the next image to be printed on the erased print layer, image update history, Alternatively, in order to manage data such as the number of rewrites, it is possible to embed or paste an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag in each thermal recording medium. For such a thermal recording medium with an RFID tag, A rewritable printer in which data can be read from or written to an RFID tag by a single reader / writer provided on a conveyance path in the printer is considered (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-150765 A

  By the way, regarding RFID tags, radio waves in the UHF band have been released since 2005 in addition to the HF band that has been released so far. Needless to say, a reader / writer capable of data communication with an RFID tag must be compatible with the same frequency band as that RFID tag.

  However, since the conventional rewritable printer is provided with a single reader / writer, the reader / writer can perform data communication with respect to the RFID in either the HF band or the UHF band. There has been a problem that appropriate data communication cannot be performed for the RFID tag of the other frequency band. In order to solve such a problem, after all, a rewritable printer having a reader / writer capable of supporting the HF band and a rewritable printer having a reader / writer compatible with the UHF band are prepared separately. It was necessary, and the burden of the cost at the time of introduction was large.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a rewritable printer capable of appropriately reading and writing data even for RFIDs having different frequency bands. There is.

  That is, the rewritable printer according to the present invention has an image printed on the printing layer and printed on the printing layer with respect to a thermal recording medium having an RFID tag and having a printing layer that can be thermally and reversibly colored and decolored. A rewritable printer for erasing an image, which is disposed on the paper feed port side and erases an image printed on the print layer, and a print unit disposed on the paper discharge port side and prints an image on the print layer And the erasing unit and the printing unit are provided with different height positions, and further includes a mounting unit on which a thermal recording medium can be mounted, and between the erasing unit and the printing unit. The RFID tag and the data corresponding to the frequency band different from the transport mechanism that moves the placement unit in the vertical direction on the transport path, the first reader / writer that performs data communication with the RFID tag, and the first reader / writer. With a second reader / writer for communication Comprising, first reader-writer and the second reader-writer, characterized in that are provided spaced apart at positions sandwiching the movable range of the mounting portion in the height direction.

  Here, the “image” is a concept including characters and symbols in addition to photographs, illustrations, and figures that can be printed on the print layer of the thermal recording medium. “Data” refers to whether the image on the print layer has been erased, what is the next image to be printed on the erased print layer, the update history of the image, the number of rewrites, etc. This is information relating to a thermal recording medium attached with an RFID tag, and the term “data” is used to distinguish it from “image”.

  If it is such, among the RFID tags of at least two different frequency bands, the RFID tag of one frequency band can perform data communication with the first reader / writer, and the RFID tag of the other frequency band. The tag can perform data communication with the second reader / writer, and there is no need to prepare a plurality of (for example, two) rewritable printers each having a reader / writer that can handle different frequency bands, Cost burden at the time of introduction can be reduced. Furthermore, since the rewritable printer of the present invention is provided with the erasing unit and the printing unit at different height positions, and the transport mechanism moves the mounting unit up and down, the installation area of the rewritable printer is kept small. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in the size of the printer. Then, by providing the first reader / writer and the second reader / writer at positions where the movable range of the mounting portion is sandwiched in the height direction, the heat sensing mechanism moves in the height direction on the transport path by the transport mechanism. The recording medium sequentially approaches the first reader / writer and the second reader / writer, and the RFID tag of the thermal recording medium is either the first reader / writer or the second reader / writer according to the frequency band in the transport process. Data communication can be reliably performed with one side. In the present invention, it is only necessary to have a reader / writer corresponding to at least two different frequency bands, and another reader / writer corresponding to a different frequency band from the first reader / writer and the second reader / writer is provided. It does not prevent it.

  In particular, in the rewritable printer of the present invention, the first reader / writer and the second reader / writer are placed at positions where the thermal recording medium mounted on the mounting portion does not interfere when the transport mechanism moves on the transport path. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the first reader / writer and the second reader / writer from interfering with the thermal recording medium and perform appropriate data communication.

  If the distance between the RFID tag of the thermal recording medium placed on the placement section of the rewritable printer and the reader / writer placed on the bottom surface of the placement section is an appropriate communication distance, the first reader / writer Or what is necessary is just to arrange | position the reader / writer provided in the lower part of a mounting part among the 2nd reader / writers on the bottom face of a mounting part. According to such an aspect, it is possible to perform appropriate data communication between one reader / writer disposed on the bottom surface of the mounting unit and the RFID tag from the time when the thermosensitive recording medium is mounted on the mounting unit.

  According to the rewritable printer of the present invention, it is possible to read appropriate data for RFIDs having different frequency bands without preparing a plurality of (for example, two) rewritable printers each having a reader / writer that can handle different frequency bands. Writing can be performed, and various heat-sensitive recording media attached with RFID tags having different frequency bands can be handled.

1 is an overall schematic diagram of a rewritable printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the top view of the thermosensitive recording medium in the embodiment typically. The figure which shows typically the side view of the thermosensitive recording medium in the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram of the rewritable printer according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The rewritable printer 1 according to the present embodiment prints an image on the printing layer Mb with respect to a thermal recording medium M that has an RFID tag Ma and has a printing layer Mb that can be thermally reversibly colored and decolored. The image printed on the print layer Mb is erased. In the present embodiment, “image” is a concept that includes characters and symbols in addition to photographs, illustrations, and figures.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 (FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams schematically showing a plan view and a side view of the thermal recording medium M, respectively), the thermal recording medium M includes a base layer Mc as a base material. The sheet-shaped laminate includes the print layer Mb and the RFID tag Ma sandwiched between the base layer Mc and the print layer Mb. The base layer Mc and the print layer Mb are cut to a sheet size such as A3 or A4, for example. When the base layer Mc and the print layer Mb are regarded as a sheet body, the thermal recording medium M is an RFID tag Ma. It can be said that it is built in the seat body.

  The printing layer Mb is mainly composed of, for example, a leuco dye and a reversible developer, and is switched between a colored state and a decolored state depending on a difference in heating temperature and cooling rate after heating.

  The RFID tag Ma includes an antenna made of, for example, a coiled conductive material and capable of communicating with the outside, and an IC chip connected to the antenna and having a unique identifier, and is in a non-contact state with a reader / writer described later via the antenna The data can be written to, read from, and rewritten to the IC chip (more specifically, the memory in the IC chip).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the rewritable printer 1 erases an image printed on a paper feed unit 2 having a paper feed port 21 and a print layer Mb of a thermal recording medium M inserted from the paper feed port 21. The erasing unit 3 to be printed, the printing unit 4 that prints an image on the print layer Mb of the thermal recording medium M that has passed through the erasing unit 3, and the discharge port 51 for discharging the thermal recording medium M that has passed through the printing unit 4 to the outside. And a paper discharge unit 5 having

  The paper feed unit 2 has a paper feed tray 22 on which a plurality of thermal recording media M on which images are printed on the print layer Mb can be stacked and a thermal recording medium M placed on the paper feed tray 22 one by one. And a feed roller that sequentially feeds toward the erasing unit 3.

  The erasing unit 3 includes an erasing head 31 that heats the print layer Mb of the thermal recording medium M, and an erasing platen roller 32 that is disposed to face the erasing head 31.

  The printing unit 4 includes a print head 41 that heats the print layer Mb of the thermal recording medium M, and a printing platen roller 42 that is disposed to face the print head 41. In this embodiment, thermal heads are applied as the erasing head 31 and the printing head 41, respectively.

  In the rewritable printer 1 of this embodiment, the printing unit 4 is disposed above the erasing unit 3, and the thermal recording medium M that has passed through the erasing unit 3 is conveyed to the printing unit 4 by the transport mechanism 6.

  The transport mechanism 6 includes a placement unit 61 on which the thermosensitive recording medium M can be placed, and a lift unit 62 that moves the placement unit 61 up and down on the transport path between the erasing unit 3 and the printing unit 4. It is a thing. The mounting portion 61 has a tray shape, and in the height direction between the lowest position (U) and the highest position (T) while maintaining a horizontal posture by the lift portion 62 including the link member 621 and the like. It is movable.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the rewritable printer 1 according to the present embodiment transmits data to the RFID tag Ma of the thermal recording medium M along the conveyance path between the erasing unit 3 and the printing unit 4. A first reader / writer 7 for reading and writing and a second reader / writer 8 corresponding to a frequency band different from the first reader / writer 7 are provided apart from each other. In the present embodiment, the first reader / writer 7 is provided in the vicinity of the mounting portion 61 positioned at the lowest lowered position (U) and further below the mounting portion 61 and positioned at the highest raised position (T). The second reader / writer 8 is provided in the vicinity of the mounting unit 61 and further above the mounting unit 61. That is, the first reader / writer 7 and the second reader / writer 8 are provided apart from each other at a position that sandwiches the movable range of the placement portion 61 in the height direction. The first reader / writer 7 corresponds to the HF band, and the second reader / writer 8 corresponds to the UHF band.

  Therefore, when the RFID tag Ma of the thermal recording medium M is of the HF band, data communication is performed with the first reader / writer 7, while when the RFID tag Ma is of the UHF band, the second reader Data communication with the writer 8 is performed. Here, “perform data communication” means that data is written to the RFID tag Ma from the reader / writer or data written to the RFID tag Ma is read by the reader / writer. Means that. Of course, “performing data communication” includes both writing to the RFID tag Ma and reading from the RFID tag Ma, and repeating writing and reading a plurality of times. Note that “data” in the present embodiment refers to whether or not the image of the print layer Mb has been erased, what is the next image to be printed on the erased print layer Mb, the update history of the image, or the number of rewrites Means any one of the RFID tag Ma itself, information on the thermal recording medium M attached with the RFID tag Ma, or information related to the image.

  Among the units described above, the erasing unit 3, the transport mechanism 6, the first reader / writer 7, the second reader / writer 8, and the printing unit 4 are disposed in the housing 9.

  Next, the operation procedure, operation, and action of the rewritable printer 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

  First, the thermal recording medium M in which an image is printed on the print layer Mb and is in a colored state is set on the paper feed tray 22 of the paper feed unit 2. Next, the thermal recording medium M conveyed from the paper feed port 21 to the erasing unit 3 is pressed and supported by the erasing platen roller 32, and the printing layer Mb is heated and gradually cooled by the erasing head 31, whereby an image of the printing layer Mb is obtained. Is erased. Subsequently, the thermal recording medium M in the erased state in which the image on the printing layer Mb has been erased by passing through the erasing unit 3 is sent onto a conveyance path between the erasing unit 3 and the printing unit 4 by a feed roller (not shown). Then, it is placed in a horizontal posture on the placing portion 61 positioned at the lowest lowered position (U). If the RFID tag Ma of the thermosensitive recording medium M is of the HF band, the first reader / writer 7 is closest to the first reader / writer 7 when it is placed on the placing portion 61 positioned at the lowest position (U). Data communication with the writer 7 is performed. And the mounting part 61 moves upwards with a horizontal attitude | position by the lift part 62 of a conveyance mechanism. The RFID tag Ma of the thermal recording medium M comes close to the second reader / writer 8 when the placement unit 61 reaches the highest position (T). Therefore, if the RFID tag Ma of the thermal recording medium M is of the UHF band, data communication with the second reader / writer 8 is performed when the placement unit 61 reaches the highest position (T).

  Even if the RFID tag Ma has the same frequency band, the optimum communication distance with the reader / writer (the first reader / writer 7 and the second reader / writer 8) is different if the shape of the whole RFID tag, in other words, the shape of the inlet is different. Is also different. However, in the present embodiment, the placement unit 61 is moved in the height direction by the lift unit 62 of the transport mechanism 6, and the RFID tag Ma of the thermal recording medium M placed on the placement unit 61 and the reader / writer (first writer). In the process of changing the relative distance between the reader / writer 7 and the second reader / writer 8), an appropriate communication distance between the RFID tag Ma and the reader / writer (first reader / writer 7, second reader / writer 8) is detected. The placement unit 61 is temporarily stopped at the detection position to perform data communication with the RFID tag Ma. That is, the transport mechanism 6 changes the relative distance between the RFID tag Ma of the thermal recording medium M placed on the placement unit 61 and the first reader / writer 7 or the second reader / writer 8 to change the RFID tag Ma and the first tag. It also functions as an “adjustment mechanism X” that adjusts the communication distance with the reader / writer 7 or the second reader / writer 8. The rewritable printer 1 according to the present embodiment is in contact with and separated from the first reader / writer 7 and the second reader / writer 8 that are separated from each other in the vertical direction while holding the RFID tag Ma attached to the thermal recording medium M in a horizontal posture. By doing so, the first reader / writer 7 or the second reader / writer 8 can read and write data from the RFID tag Ma in the vertical direction.

  After the placement unit 61 reaches the highest position (T), the thermal recording medium M is conveyed to the printing unit 4 by a feed roller (not shown) and is pressed and supported by the printing platen roller 42. By heating and rapidly cooling the printing layer Mb, an image is printed on the printing layer Mb of the heat-sensitive recording medium M, and the heat-sensitive recording medium M is in a colored state in which the image is colored in a visible state. The image printed on the print layer Mb is an image based on data written in the RFID tag Ma by data communication between the first reader / writer 7 or the second reader / writer 8 and the RFID tag Ma, or an image input in advance by the user. It is.

  The heat-sensitive recording medium M that has passed the printing unit 4 and is in a colored state is discharged from a discharge port of the discharge unit 5 to the outside by a feed roller (not shown) and stacked on a discharge tray of the discharge unit 5.

  As described above, the rewritable printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes the first reader / writer 7 that performs data communication with the RFID tag Ma, and the second reader / writer 8 that corresponds to a frequency band different from that of the first reader / writer 7. Therefore, the RFID tag Ma of one frequency band among the RFID tags Ma of two different frequency bands can perform data communication with the first reader / writer 7, and the RFID tag Ma of the other frequency band. Can perform data communication with the second reader / writer 8, and there is no need to prepare a plurality of (for example, two) rewritable printers each having a reader / writer that can handle different frequency bands, Although it is the single rewritable printer 1, it can respond to the thermal recording medium M attached with the RFID tag Ma having a different frequency band. Further, since the first reader / writer 7 and the second reader / writer 8 are separated from each other along the transport path, the thermal recording medium M that moves on the transport path by the transport mechanism 6 is the first reader / writer 7 and the first reader / writer 7. The RFID tag Ma of the thermal recording medium M is in the proximity of one reader / writer 8 (first reader / writer 7 or second reader / writer 8) depending on the frequency band. ) And reliable data communication.

  In particular, the rewritable printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the erasing unit 3 and the printing unit 4 are provided at different height positions and the mounting unit 61 of the transport mechanism 6 is moved up and down. The installation area of the rewritable printer 1 can be prevented from being enlarged, and the first reader / writer 7 and the second reader / writer 8 can be placed at a position where the movable range of the mounting portion 61 is sandwiched in the height direction. Since they are provided apart from each other, the thermal recording medium M that moves in the height direction on the conveyance path by such a conveyance mechanism 6 can be sequentially brought close to the first reader / writer 7 and the second reader / writer 8. In addition, a mechanism for moving the reader / writer (the first reader / writer 7 and the second reader / writer 8) to the thermal recording medium M becomes unnecessary, and the structure is simplified.

  In the rewritable printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the thermal recording medium M in which the first reader / writer 7 and the second reader / writer 8 are moved on the conveyance path by the conveyance mechanism 6 while being placed on the placement unit 61. By providing it at a position where it does not interfere with the transport mechanism 6, it is possible to prevent the interference between the first reader / writer 7 or the second reader / writer 8 and the thermosensitive recording medium M while ensuring a smooth and stable operation of the transport mechanism 6. It can be performed.

  Further, in the process of transporting the thermal recording medium M from the erasing unit 3 to the printing unit 4 by the transport mechanism 6 with the mounting unit 61 mounted, the RFID tag Ma and the first reader / writer 7 or the second reader / writer 8 By adjusting the communication distance, the proper communication distance between each RFID tag Ma and the first reader / writer 7 or the second reader / writer 8 is adjusted even when the shape of the whole RFID tag Ma (inlet) is different. Therefore, appropriate data communication can be performed even for RFIDs having different inlet shapes.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above. For example, a reader / writer that is relatively provided below the placement portion of the first reader / writer and the second reader / writer may be disposed on the bottom surface of the placement portion. In this case, the condition is that the distance between the RFID tag of the thermal recording medium placed on the placement unit and the reader / writer placed on the bottom surface of the placement unit is an appropriate communication distance. According to such an aspect, it is possible to perform appropriate data communication between one reader / writer disposed on the bottom surface of the mounting unit and the RFID tag from the time when the thermosensitive recording medium is mounted on the mounting unit. When the frequency band of the RFID tag is different from the frequency band of one reader / writer disposed on the bottom surface of the placement unit, the RFID tag is connected to the other reader / writer along with the upward movement of the placement unit. Proximity and data communication with the other reader / writer.

  In the above-described embodiment, the reader / writer corresponding to the HF band is disposed relatively downward and the reader / writer corresponding to the UHF band is disposed relatively upward. However, the arrangement relationship of these reader / writers is set in reverse. But of course.

  If the frequency bands that will be released in the future for use of RFID tags further increase, reader / writers corresponding to each frequency band (first reader / writer, second reader / writer, third reader / writer,... ) May be provided separately along the transport path.

  The heat-sensitive recording medium is not limited to a sheet-like one, and may be a card-like one, or may be one in which an RFID tag is attached instead of the RFID tag built-in type. It may be a heat sensitive recording medium without an RFID tag.

  In addition, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Rewritable printer 3 ... Erasing part 4 ... Printing part 6 ... Transport mechanism 61 ... Mounting part 7 ... 1st reader / writer 8 ... 2nd reader / writer M ... Thermal recording medium Ma ... RFID tag Mb ... Printing layer

Claims (3)

Rewritable for printing an image on the printing layer and erasing the image printed on the printing layer with respect to a thermal recording medium having an RFID tag and having a printing layer capable of thermoreversibly coloring and erasing. A printer,
An erasing unit arranged on the paper feed port side for erasing an image printed on the printing layer;
A printing unit arranged on the discharge port side and printing an image on the print layer;
Providing the erasing part and the printing part with mutually different height positions;
A transport mechanism that has a mounting section on which the thermal recording medium can be mounted, and moves the mounting section up and down on a transport path between the erasing section and the printing section;
A first reader / writer that performs data communication with the RFID tag;
The first reader / writer includes a second reader / writer that performs data communication with the RFID tag corresponding to different frequency bands,
The rewritable printer, characterized in that the first reader / writer and the second reader / writer are provided apart from each other at a position sandwiching the movable range of the mounting portion in the height direction. The first reader / writer and the second reader / writer are provided at a position where the thermosensitive recording medium placed on the placement portion does not interfere when moving on the transport path by the transport mechanism. Item 10. The rewritable printer according to Item 1. The rewritable according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a reader / writer provided relatively below the placement portion of the first reader / writer or the second reader / writer is disposed on a bottom surface of the placement portion. Printer.

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